B-CC track and field team's third developmental meet – held late Tuesday afternoon at Georgetown Prep and including public and private schools in Montgomery County – is perhaps the most informal of the season. Organizers call it a practice. Coach Chad Young allowed the student-athletes to choose the events they wanted to run. ``That’s how this meet works,’’ he said. ``They make it really athlete-centered.’’
But it didn’t mean that his athletes competed with less intensity. The boys’ distance runners were good examples, Young said.
In the boys 4 X 400 relay – without top runner Ben Gold, who sprained an ankle during practice -- sophomore Julien Dorsey joined junior Terrence James and seniors Alex Barrett and Brendan McClafferty to post a 3:46 finish.
``It was the most exciting race – there was a buzz about it,’’ Young said. ``WJ (Walter Johnson) was leading going into the last lap, and Alex caught up to the WJ runner, the WJ runner surged ahead, Alex and he went side by side but Alex couldn’t quite get past him in the end.’’
Young said the relay team has had a great start to the season. ``We have a core group of guys now, all working hard, and they all have a good attitude,’’ he said. ``This year we have something to work with, and the guys are competitive.’’ One example: McClafferty’s time of 57.3 was a second faster than his race last week.
Another bright spot, he said, were a trio of senior boy runners for the 1,600 meter race (a mile is 1,609 meters). Eric Damtoft ran 4:52, Chris Henderson 4:57, and Nick Richter 5:00. ``We should see these distance guys improve this season,’’ Young said. ``They are learning how to race.’’
In the boys’ 800 meter race, junior Trevor Stephens – a varsity soccer player in the fall – ran his fastest time of the year, finishing in 2:08. ``He raced pretty hard, got in there, went out with the top pack and finished well, close to the winner,’’ Young said.
For the girls, Young pinpointed one race – the 200-meter sprint. Sophomore Hannah Levin posted the fastest time, finishing in 28.5. Junior Brianna Vlanton was right behind, finishing in 28.9.
Tuesday’s meet was the last one before winter break. The first official meet, in which times are recorded, is scheduled for Jan. 9, an all-day affair that starts at 8 a.m. at Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Second meet: `You should have seen the look on her face'
At B-CC indoor track and field team’s second meet of the season, held Wednesday at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex, one of the most impressive performances came from an unlikely source – the girls B 4 X 400 relay team.
The girls A 4 X 400 team had run well. Paige Donnelly, Hannah Levin, Julia Hardgrove, and Owyn Manson ran 4:37 to finish second in their heat.
The B team’s race, though, had more drama, said Head Coach Chad Young. Alison Thomas, a sophomore, set the tone in her leg of the race, the coach said.
``Another girl was trying to blow by her, but Alison would not let her pass,’’ Young said. ``You should have seen the look on her face. She was so determined.’’
Melissa Jaskiewicz, a junior, ran a similarly competitive race. ``She ran the last leg and from the beginning had to fend people off. Melissa stayed on the inside, and fought off a girl until the last straight away when she couldn’t hold her any longer,’’ Young said. ``They showed more competitiveness today than anyone on the track. When it’s one person against one person, you learn a lot about them.’’
The other two members of the 4 X 400 girls relay team were Ava Farrell and Laila Shehata. Their time was 4:42.
In other highlights, the boys A 4 X 400 team made its debut with a strong race, finishing in 3:43, the school’s fastest 4 X 400 time in the last two years, Young said. The team consisted of Alex Barrett, Terrence James, Ben Gold, and Brendan McClafferty.
Also, Donnelly placed highest for B-CC in the competition, finishing second in the girls’ 3200 meter race in 12:10. She led most of the race, relinquishing the lead in the final lap.
For Young and fellow coach Nathan Herchenroeder, one of the best moments of the competition was senior Max Dudek’s first indoor relay race; Dudek ran on the boys’ 4 X 200 and 4 X 400 teams. ``He was a little anxious about it, but after he competed, he loved it,’’ Young said. ``It was fun watching him.’’
Wednesday’s meet was a developmental competition and the scores were not official. The squad’s third developmental meet is scheduled for next Tuesday at Georgetown Prep from 4-6:30 p.m. It will include several area public and private high schools.
The girls A 4 X 400 team had run well. Paige Donnelly, Hannah Levin, Julia Hardgrove, and Owyn Manson ran 4:37 to finish second in their heat.
The B team’s race, though, had more drama, said Head Coach Chad Young. Alison Thomas, a sophomore, set the tone in her leg of the race, the coach said.
``Another girl was trying to blow by her, but Alison would not let her pass,’’ Young said. ``You should have seen the look on her face. She was so determined.’’
Melissa Jaskiewicz, a junior, ran a similarly competitive race. ``She ran the last leg and from the beginning had to fend people off. Melissa stayed on the inside, and fought off a girl until the last straight away when she couldn’t hold her any longer,’’ Young said. ``They showed more competitiveness today than anyone on the track. When it’s one person against one person, you learn a lot about them.’’
The other two members of the 4 X 400 girls relay team were Ava Farrell and Laila Shehata. Their time was 4:42.
In other highlights, the boys A 4 X 400 team made its debut with a strong race, finishing in 3:43, the school’s fastest 4 X 400 time in the last two years, Young said. The team consisted of Alex Barrett, Terrence James, Ben Gold, and Brendan McClafferty.
Also, Donnelly placed highest for B-CC in the competition, finishing second in the girls’ 3200 meter race in 12:10. She led most of the race, relinquishing the lead in the final lap.
For Young and fellow coach Nathan Herchenroeder, one of the best moments of the competition was senior Max Dudek’s first indoor relay race; Dudek ran on the boys’ 4 X 200 and 4 X 400 teams. ``He was a little anxious about it, but after he competed, he loved it,’’ Young said. ``It was fun watching him.’’
Wednesday’s meet was a developmental competition and the scores were not official. The squad’s third developmental meet is scheduled for next Tuesday at Georgetown Prep from 4-6:30 p.m. It will include several area public and private high schools.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
First indoor meet of the year
With the first snow of the season falling outside the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex, the B-CC Barons opened their indoor track season Saturday in a Howard-Montgomery counties joint meet.
Head coach Chad Young liked what he saw in the developmental meet.
``A lot of kids got their first shot today out here – either their first track meet or their first field event,’’ he said from the stands, his stopwatch in his right hand. ``It was fun to watch.’’
The snowstorm forced organizers to cancel the second half of the scheduled events, but many Barons performed well in the morning and early afternoon. Young cited two teams in particular – the 4 X 200 boys relay and the girls A team distance medley relay (DMR).
The boys finished second in a six-team heat. The team consisted of three members of the B-CC boys varsity soccer team – Ben Gold, Brendan McClafferty, and Amin Sijelmassi – and David Segun. Their combined time was 1:42.20; Gold ran the fastest 200 heat in 24.56.
The girls finished third overall. Ava Farrell led off with a 4:11 1,200 meter run, and was followed by Laila Shehata’s 1:13 400, Hallie Jester’s 2:31 800, and Paige Donnelly’s 5:33 1600. Donnelly took the baton in third place, behind by 100 meters. She pulled even with the leader at the start of the final lap, but couldn’t push the pace further.
Young also mentioned several Barons who competed for the first time for the school. One was junior Brianna Vlanton, a transfer from Blair High School, who ran a strong leg in the 55 meter girls dash relay. Another was freshman Abby Stephens, who ran the opening leg in the girls B distance medley relay – the 1,200-meter run.
``She was very nervous, but she did well,’’ Young said. ``Afterward she told me, `I’m so glad you put me in. It wasn’t as bad as I thought.’ ‘’
The team has two more developmental meets at the Prince George’s facility in December. The first one is this Wednesday, Dec. 9, starting at 2:30 p.m. In these meets, scores are not kept for the teams. Young sees them as invaluable experience early in the season.
``After they get these races or events under their belt, they feel like they can do it,’’ he said. ``It’s great for their confidence.’’
Head coach Chad Young liked what he saw in the developmental meet.
``A lot of kids got their first shot today out here – either their first track meet or their first field event,’’ he said from the stands, his stopwatch in his right hand. ``It was fun to watch.’’
The snowstorm forced organizers to cancel the second half of the scheduled events, but many Barons performed well in the morning and early afternoon. Young cited two teams in particular – the 4 X 200 boys relay and the girls A team distance medley relay (DMR).
The boys finished second in a six-team heat. The team consisted of three members of the B-CC boys varsity soccer team – Ben Gold, Brendan McClafferty, and Amin Sijelmassi – and David Segun. Their combined time was 1:42.20; Gold ran the fastest 200 heat in 24.56.
The girls finished third overall. Ava Farrell led off with a 4:11 1,200 meter run, and was followed by Laila Shehata’s 1:13 400, Hallie Jester’s 2:31 800, and Paige Donnelly’s 5:33 1600. Donnelly took the baton in third place, behind by 100 meters. She pulled even with the leader at the start of the final lap, but couldn’t push the pace further.
Young also mentioned several Barons who competed for the first time for the school. One was junior Brianna Vlanton, a transfer from Blair High School, who ran a strong leg in the 55 meter girls dash relay. Another was freshman Abby Stephens, who ran the opening leg in the girls B distance medley relay – the 1,200-meter run.
``She was very nervous, but she did well,’’ Young said. ``Afterward she told me, `I’m so glad you put me in. It wasn’t as bad as I thought.’ ‘’
The team has two more developmental meets at the Prince George’s facility in December. The first one is this Wednesday, Dec. 9, starting at 2:30 p.m. In these meets, scores are not kept for the teams. Young sees them as invaluable experience early in the season.
``After they get these races or events under their belt, they feel like they can do it,’’ he said. ``It’s great for their confidence.’’
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